Ayurveda has been practiced in the US for only about 30 years, yet it is one of the systems of medicine native to India and is thousands of years old. Readers are invited to submit questions for “Ayurveda Q & A” to ayurveda@layogamagazine.com.
Q: What are some of the best ways to promote ojas (strength and vitality) for a nursingmother after she has given birth?
Dr. Vasant Lad
A: After giving birth to a child, a woman experiences a period of increased vata dosha (air and ether or space elements). This is because the mother’s womb is now empty after delivering a child. Previously, this area of the body was full of amniotic fluid, the fetus (now child) and the mother’s rasa dhatu (tissue which includes the body’s fluids). In that now empty space, vata dosha gets aggravated. When this happens, a woman may experience backaches, pain in the joints, sciatica-like symptoms, fatigue, low energy or hemorrhoids.
Gentle massage can also help calm vata dosha. The massage can be either local (such as to the low back) or over the entire body; a good oil to use is mahanarayana oil. After massage, the dosha can be calmed further by taking a ginger baking soda bath with onethird cup each baking soda and ginger powder. Soak the lower half of the body in the water during vata times of the day (early morning and late afternoon). Be sure to wait to do any bathing or soaking until after any stitches are out and the body is healed.
Favor a vata-pacifying diet with warm, soothing, often soupy foods. Avoid or limit raw vegetables, dried fruits and black, pinto and aduki beans, which are all foods that increase vata dosha. Avoid nightshades, which include potato, tomato, eggplant and bell or hot peppers. Other suggestions to calm vata and support ojas include staying warm and calm and limiting sexual activity. After delivery, the abdominal muscles can become loose, easily accumulating fat; to avoid a saggy belly the abdominal area can be bound with a soft cloth during the daytime (like a cummerbund) and removed at bedtime.
To support lactation, clean the areola and nipples before breastfeeding. After breastfeeding, hold the child upright, close to their bottom and gently pat their back to help settle their stomach and reduce the chance of them developing nausea or vomiting after feeding. To prevent insufficient excretion of milk, which may produce mastic tissue congestion, squeeze out some milk at the end of the feeding and bottle it.
Hemorrhoids can often occur during pregnancy or after childbirth. These can be calmed down by taking internally one-half teaspoon triphala powder in warm water at bedtime and by applying topically a wellblended mixture of one teaspoon of castor oil combined with two pinches of turmeric.
Herbs
An herbal program that can be helpful after delivery and during lactation to improve strength and stamina is as follows:
- shatavari ( Asparagus racemosus) five parts
- guduchi ( Tinospora cordifolia) one part
- ashwagandha (Withania somnifera) four parts
- vidari ( Ipomoea digitata) three parts and
- yasti madhu/licorice (Glycyrrhiza glabra) two parts
The recommended amount is one teaspoon of this herbal formula mixed with one cup of warm milk.
Massage
To improve circulation in the breasts, Ayurveda suggests massaging the breasts with sesame or bala (Sida cordifolia) oil. In order to minimize stretch marks on the abdomen, gently massage with warm castor oil or flax seed oil at bedtime.
Yoga
Gentle Yoga stretching like camel, cobra, cat and cow pose; bow, boat and bridge pose; and lotus, locust and lion pose in the morning or in the evening are beneficial to strengthen the muscles and the ligaments of lower back and abdominal area.
Pranayama
Gentle pranayama learned from an experienced teacher such as anuloma viloma and kapalbhati can improve circulation, abdominal muscle strength and bowel coordination so that the woman will feel happy and fresh throughout the day and accumulation of fat around the belly may simply go away. She will look younger than her age.
The information provided here is for educational purposes only. Before using any Ayurvedic remedies, consult with a qualified Ayurvedic practitioner or healthcare provider. This article represents the opinion and recommendation of the author and does not necessarily reflect the views of LA YOGA Ayurveda and Health magazine.
Dr. Vasant Lad, BAMS, MASc, founded the Ayurvedic Institute in 1984 and is its principal instructor and director. He graduated with a Bachelor of Ayurvedic Medicine and Surgery (BAMS) from the University of Pune, India, in 1968 and received a Master of Ayurvedic Science (MASc) in 1980 from Tilak Ayurved Mahavidyalaya, also in Pune. He held the position of Professor of Clinical Medicine at the Pune University College of Ayurvedic Medicine where he was an instructor for more than a decade. Dr. Lad is the author of several books:ayurveda.com.
Dr. Lad will be teaching a weekend program, Journey into the Chakras, October 24 – 25, 2009 in Los Angeles, CA. For more information, visit: friendsofayurveda.com. Money raised during the weekend will support Ganesha Ayurveda Medical Center in Pune, India.
Dr. Vasant Lad will be one of the teachers at the seventh annual National Ayurvedic Medical Association Conference, April 15 – 18, 2010 in San Mateo, CA. For more information, visit:ayurveda-nama.org.
RESOURCES:
Ayurvedic Mother and Baby Care
Martha Soffer, Surya Spa in Pacific Palisades, Los Angeles: (310) 459 – 7715, suryaspa.com
Aparna Khanolkar, The Mistress of Spice in Santa Barbara: (805) 698 – 5630, themistressofspice.com
Corinna Schmidt and Claudia Brachtl, LAc at the Prana Center in Santa Barbara: (805) 452 – 2526, maharani.us
Andrea Emmerich in Hollywood: (310) 266 – 4000
Ala Sudol, Ala Ayurveda in Marina del Rey: (310) 968 – 4601, ala-ayurveda.com
Margo Bachman, The Heart of Wellness in Santa Fe: (505) 670 – 4506, heartofwellness.com
Felicia Tomasko, RN: feliciatomasko@aol.com
Training Programs in Ayurvedic Mother and Baby Care
Rocky Mountain Institute of Yoga and Ayurveda taught by Ysha Oakes, Postpartum AyurDoula Care: (303) 499 – 2910, rmiya.org
Ysha Oakes, Postpartum AyurDoula Resources including articles, recipes, blog and newsletter: (505) 508 – 4219, sacredwindow.com
Mahanarayana and other Nourishing Oils Sarada Ayurvedic Remedies:
saradausa.com Banyan Botanicals: banyanbotanicals.com
TriHealth: oilbath.com
Floracopeia: floracopeia.com
Ayurvedic Practitioners
California Association of Ayurvedic Medicine: ayurveda-caam.org
National Ayurvedic Medical Association: ayurveda-nama.org
By Dr. Vasant Lad
